The Beauty of Life

Guest Review: Kiss My Face Start Up Exfoliating Face Wash

2008-10-11T09:00:00.000-04:00

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Kiss My Face Start Up Exfoliating Face Wash

Guest review by TotalBeauty.com editor Kristen Oldham-Giordani

The zesty lemon-lime-scented wash gently removes dead skin (and makeup) with natural fruit acids.

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Obsession of the Moment: Rich Body Creams

2008-10-10T15:00:00.001-04:00

Temperatures are beginning to drop, and for this beauty chick that means one thing. MOISTURIZER. My skin gets absolutely parched the second temps start to fall ... even in 60 degrees, my hands start to feel scaly and my elbows and knees look ashier than, well, Ash Wednesday. But that's where these three rich, lush, luxuriously thick body creams come into play. One ounce of contact with my skin and it's goodbye, crocodile scales ... hello, supple smoothness!

Glowology by Noodle & Boo The Balm ($24 at noodleandboo.com): This is meant for hands and feet. It says so right on the package! But this luscious cream drenches every part of my body with utterly fabulous moisture, thanks to the inclusion of shea butter and sunflower oil. What really gets me, though, is the delectably sweet but not at all cloying scent -- it's like heaven in a tub. And it totally cuts out the need for perfume!

Tom Ford White Patchouli Hydrating Body Lotion ($45 at bergdorfgoodman.com): A friend from work gifted me with this recently, and it's now taken up permanent residence on my desk. Why? Maybe it's the intoxicating flowery scent that steers clear of becoming powdery or old-fashioned. Perhaps it's the gorgeously understated white tube with the glam gold accents. Or maybe it's just because it leaves my skin feeling unbelievably hydrated for hours on end ... even after washing my hands! Whatever the reason, I am a total convert.

Anthousa Grapefruit & Lime Blossom Nourishing Body Cream ($44 at beautyhabit.com): I've been a diehard fan of this one for quite some time. The consistency is so thick, it feels like you're dipping your hands into a tub of butter. It glides onto skin smoothly and evenly without leaving behind a greasy sheen. And it smells out of this world fantastic. It's tart yet sweet, light yet rich, and makes my skin feel like silk. I can't ask for anything more.

Beautiful Belles: Deborah Kerr

2008-10-10T13:00:00.001-04:00

A series focusing on beautiful women throughout history with important contributions to the arts and entertainment industry and charity -- and a fabulous sense of beauty, inside and out!

A more genteel and beautiful woman than Deborah Kerr could not possibly exist. The Scottish actress, known for roles in countless movies and Broadway shows, exuded utter grace and sophistication throughout her entire career.

My fascination with the actress began when I was just four years old. As a little rambunctious tyke with way too much energy, my mother decided to put me into theater. And my first show? The King and I, of course! I, naturally, became obsessed with the musical and watched the movie -- with Kerr as Anna -- every chance I got. Is there anything more amazing than the silvery purple ballgown she wears while dancing with Yul Brynner to Shall We Dance? I fell in love with her lilting speaking and singing voice (not realizing until many years later that Marni Nixon did the singing), her fiery red hair, her porcelain skin and her gorgeous wardrobe of one Victorian dress after another.

But, of course, Kerr is known for many roles besides that of Mrs. Anna. From 1940-1986, she appeared in over 30 films. Audiences saw her more sensual side in From Here to Eternity, where she frolicked on a beach and embraced the handsome Burt Lancaster. And who among us has not watched An Affair to Remember after its immortalization in Sleepless in Seattle?

Born Deborah Jane-Kerr Trimmer in 1921, Kerr trained as a ballet dancer before becoming an actress -- thus providing her with the beauty and grace so prominent throughout her career. And while she never won an Academy Award, she was honored six times with nominations. Her goodwill was shown in her volunteer efforts for the National Society for Clean Air and Environmental Protection, which she was a patron of from 1992 onward.

Kerr's beauty never failed, even as she grew older and unfortunately suffered from Parkinson's Disease. Her trademark red hair, offset by that gorgeous porcelain skin and creamy pale red lips, were mainstays in her look for over 40 years. Kerr always had a way of looking polished without becoming too over the top or "done." She embodied the true elegance so many women envy and emulate.

Very unfortunately, Deborah Kerr passed away in 2007. But her memory lives on throughout her storied career. She is truly a Beautiful Belle.

The Glowelle Experiment: Week 1

2008-10-10T11:00:00.003-04:00

Last week I told you about my new 30-day challenge: The Glowelle Experiment. (Click here for a quick recap.) Well, here is a chronicle of Week 1! Read on to find out what I've discovered so far in my first seven days with the packets.

DAY 1
I decide to try it out at work. I have a 20oz. water bottle sitting on my desk -- a little more than the 16oz. recommended for the packet, but I figure it's close enough. So I dump in the brownish-red crystals, shake up the bottle, and ... wow. It is RED. I'm talking the color of blood. A bit scarier than I would have liked it to look, I will admit. But hey, I'm up for the challenge ... so I take a sip. And another sip. This isn't so bad, I think. And then ... the aftertaste sets in. A combination of pomegranate and some sort of flowers, maybe jasmine, maybe roses. It tastes like these strange mints an old boss of mine used to try and pawn off on me because she didn't like them. This isn't a good thing. I get through about half the bottle before I decide I just really can't drink any more and chuck the bottle into the trash can.

DAY 2
Rather than staring at the scary blood-red mixture in my water bottle at work, I decide to break up the packet into two 8oz. glasses of water. As I pour half the packet into glass number one and start to mix it up, I stare warily at the liquid within. It's that horrific blood-red color again. Oh well, I think, and I down half the glass in one gulp. I'm thinking this might be the way to go as I drown the glass and make the second one. I barely taste it if I just gulp it quickly! However, the smell of it turns my stomach a bit. At least I made it through the whole packet this time. No changes to my skin yet.

DAY 3
Before going out for a night on the town with my fabulous brother, who came in from Boston for the weekend, I decided to gulp down two glasses of the stuff. I had the first glass before he got to my place ... and I was just pouring the second as he walked in the door. "What is that?" he asked incredulously. He just couldn't get over the red mixture I was drinking. I just continued gulping until it was gone. My skin still looks the same!

DAY 4-6
I skipped these days. Oops.

DAY 7
This was the first day I actually didn't hate the drink! I recently got a lovely 700ml water bottle from the lovely folks at Bobbi Brown. I decided to fill this up with water and, even though it was 200ml more than the required water amount, it seemed to dilute the potion a bit and make it bearable. I actually was even able to drink the entire concoction in just a few minutes! My skin is still the same, but I'm thinking within the next week I will hopefully start to see a difference.

And that's week one of The Glowelle Experiment! Stay tuned for week two!

Zoya Gossip Collection Giveaway: Winner Announced!

2008-10-10T09:17:00.003-04:00

Congratulations to Miss Judy Maltz! She was picked at random out of 683 entries to win the Zoya Gossip Collection Giveaway. Judy will be receiving the six polishes from this past summer's hit collection, inspired by the gals from hit TV show The Hills.

Thanks to everyone who entered, and stay tuned for more fabulous giveaways at The Beauty of Life!

Guest Review: Maybelline New York Intense XXL Volume & Length Waterproof Microfiber Mascara

2008-10-10T09:00:00.001-04:00

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Maybelline New York Intense XXL Volume & Length Waterproof Microfiber Mascara

Guest review by TotalBeauty.com editor Charli Schuler

This dual-wanded mascara has fat brushes and contains the unpopular white primer, but it's the only one I've tried that delivers a false-lash look and passes the surf test.

See review

First Look Fridays: Poppy King of Lipstick Queen

2008-10-10T07:00:00.011-04:00

I am thrilled to bring you this week's edition of First Look Fridays, featuring the fabulous Poppy King of Lipstick Queen! Lipstick Queen, for those gals not in the know, is an absolutely amazing line of lipsticks and lipglosses that exude 1940s glamour and sophistication. Originally from Melbourne, Australia, Poppy now lives in NYC and spends her time creating some of the most fab glosses and sticks around. She's even written a book, Lessons of a Lipstick Queen, which follows her journey through the world of business. I, for one, am totally in love with Shine -- a gooey pot gloss that slicks on to create the shiniest, reddest pout you could ever imagine. Read on to discover more about this amazing gal!

How did you first become interested in beauty, and what led you to work in the beauty industry?
I fell in love with lipstick when I first tried it at 7 years old, playing dress-ups with my mom. It was this obsession with finding the perfect lipstick that led me to create my own brand at 18 years of age.

When did you create Lipstick Queen, and how did it grow from an idea to reality?
Lipstick Queen is my second brand and I started it in 2007. Poppy was my first brand, which I started in 1992 and ended in 2002 when I moved from Melbourne to New York. Both brands grew the same way. Recognizing a gap in the market for 1940s-style lipsticks, putting together a business plan, finding a manufacturer and finding finance and then going from there.

What are some of the highlights in your career?
1) Having Barneys take both brands into their stores.
2) Being named Young Australian of the Year in 1995.
3) Meeting Nelson Mandela.
4) Meeting Leonard Lauder.
5) And every customer who uses and loves my products is a highlight of my career.

How do you continue to be inspired to create new products?
Words and colors inspire me. I may hear a word or phrase and I translate that into colors. And vice versa ... I will see a color and translate that into a name or word for a product.

What are your top 3 makeup tips?
1) Less is more. I believe in being strategic with makeup rather than using it for the sake of it.
2) Minimal eye makeup when wearing red lipstick makes it look fresh, young and modern.
3) Use blush on the apples of your cheeks for a dewy, just fallen in love glow.

What is your favorite Lipstick Queen product and why?
I love the Oxymoron Matte Gloss that you use on lips and cheeks. It is so unusual and easy to use.
But of course I love all LQ products!

What are the products and brands you simply can't live without?
1) Chapstick for keeping lips moist during travel.
2) A spare toothbrush to use to exfoliate the lips.
3) Diorshow mascara.

What is the most rewarding part of what you do?
Seeing a woman's confidence go soaring in a beautiful lips shade.

Playing with beauty products must be fun -- but what are some things you do for fun outside of being a product creator?
I love vintage shopping, revival cinema, collecting handbags, reading, knitting and yoga.

Thanks so much to the fabulous Poppy King of Lipstick Queen for granting The Beauty of Life this interview! Be sure to check out her amazing line of products, all available at lipstickqueen.com.

Support Breast Cancer Awareness: Jo Malone Red Roses Cologne and Bath Oil

2008-10-09T13:33:00.003-04:00

The most gorgeous rosebush blooms in the backyard at my mom's house. And since I was little, I've absolutely loved picking roses off it in the summer and wearing them in my hair, putting them in vases, crushing the petals into potpourri ... you name it, I've done it. So of course I am totally enamored of Jo Malone Red Roses Bath Oil and Cologne. These two products take the essence of rose and transform it into something absolutely amazing.

Because, you know what? We're not just talking one type of rose. We're talking seven. This fragrance takes seven different types of roses from around the world and turns them into an intriguingly delightful bouquet that just envelops your entire being. And with touches of lemon and spearmint, it's just the slightest bit zesty as well. But rather than becoming cloying or heavy, it sits lightly upon the skin and just makes you feel pretty and feminine. And the bath oil? It turns your bathtub into a bubbly mass of heaven!

Both the cologne and the bath oil are available on Jo Malone's website. The cologne is $55 for 30ml and $100 for 100ml, and the bath oil is $60 for 250ml. And throughout the month of October, Jo Malone will donate $15,000 to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation from the sales of these products.

You know what they say ... a rose is a rose is a rose.

Quiz: Your Ideal Breast Cancer Early Detection Plan

2008-10-09T09:00:00.000-04:00

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Quiz: Your Ideal Breast Cancer Early Detection Plan

Answer these questions to access your risk and find out what precautions you should be taking

According to the National Cancer Institute it is estimated that 182,460 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in 2008 and 40,480 of those women will die. In order to be part of the two and a half million women who survive, you need to know how at risk of breast cancer you are and take all necessary steps to make sure that if you do get breast cancer you catch it and treat it early. This quiz is your first step in the right direction.

Take the quiz

Trend-Filled Thursdays: Side Twists

2008-10-09T08:11:00.007-04:00

Long and flowy locks? Yes, they're always in style. But the new way to rock them is totally with the newly popular side twist. Avid readers of The Beauty of Life will remember the side braid rocked by Lauren Conrad on last season's The Hills. (Click here for a short refresher course.) Well, the side twist is the cousin to that popular look!

Seen on celebs like Nicole Richie, Mandy Moore and even LC's BFF Whitney Port, the side twist is making its way through Hollywood at red carpet events, brunches and all sorts of other appearances. And good news -- it is super easy to do at home! Read on to find out how you can create the look!

Luckily for you, this style might just be the easiest one out there to recreate! Just follow these simple steps:

1) Start with a texturizing spray while hair is still damp. I love Blow Wave Maker Light Twisting Lotion ($20 at blowstylingsalon.com), which creates loose waves without any added crunchiness or stickiness when blowdrying.

2) After blowdrying, use a fine-toothed comb to create a neat center part.

3) Take a small section from each side -- between 1-2 inches -- and separate them from the rest of your hair. These sections should start right at the crown.

4) Slowly twist each section toward the back of the head. You should be twisting the hair toward your scalp and making sure it lies even with your head.

5) Secure each twist at the back with bobby pins.

And voila! A simple, easy yet totally chic way to style your hair in under three minutes! (Well, minus the blowdrying.)

Beauty Event: Avon Beauty Breakthrough Tour

2008-10-08T13:00:00.001-04:00

Free skin consultations. Lip makeovers. The opportunity to win $500. Sound too good to be true? Well, it's not! The Avon Beauty Breakthrough Tour is coming through your city and wants to give you the chance to be beautiful inside and out. This tour is now in its 7th year of bringing beauty and technology to women while challenging communities to join forces and raise funds for their local domestic violence agency. 12 stop across the coast will be made from now through November. And the best part? The 1600-square-foot Beauty Pavilion with all of Avon's brand-new products and even Beauty Expert Julie Kalvaitas!

Some of the stops have unfortunately already passed. But there are a few left on the tour -- here's where they'll be:

October 11-12: Chicago Country Music Festival in Chicago, IL
October 16-19: Tulsa Oktoberfest in Tulsa, OK
October 24-26: What Women Want Festival in St. George, UT
October 31-November 2: Arizona State Fair in Phoenix, AZ
November 7-9: Ozark's Women's Living Expo in Springfield, MO

Why not check it out? For more information, check out Avon's website.

Lusts of the Week

2008-10-08T11:00:00.004-04:00

Is there anything worse than an internet connection that refuses to work, no matter how many times you refresh your browser? This beauty chick thinks not. So this week has been anything but fun with the internet outage in my apartment. Luckily, this affords me a lot of extra time to play with beauty products ... which means I have of course fallen in love with some new ones! Check out what I'm loving this week.

Guerlain Mysterious Butterfly Eyeshadow Palette ($57 at nordstrom.com and Bergdorf Goodman): Seriously, have you ever seen anything more beautiful? This palette has a gorgeous butterfly flitting across pearly, shimmery eyeshadows in the prettiest shades of purple. I honestly don't even know how I'm going to bring myself to use it -- it's such a work of art, I may just have to keep it on my vanity to stare at from time to time! A special thanks to Jason at BG for setting this aside for me last week -- I definitely didn't want to miss out on snapping it up before it's sure to sell out.

Estee Lauder Re-Nutriv Ultimate Youth Eye Creme ($100 at esteelauder.com): Devoted followers will already know of my obsession with Re-Nutriv Ultimate Youth Creme. (For a refresher course, click here.) The patented formula makes skin gleam, even when it's totally parched and in need of some serious hydration. Well, now EL has gone and turned it into an eye cream that, I'm serious, rivals my very favorite La Mer The Eye Concentrate. It instantly plumps skin, rids you of dark circles, and makes you look seriously more awake than you would ever dream possible. Plus it's cooling and smells amazing. What more could you ask for?

Dianne Brill Panties in a Bunch ($47 at beautyhabit.com): Frilly Thong. Sheer String. Jewelled G-String. Pearly Panty. Vinyl V-String. Satin Hipster. No, I'm not talking about lingerie from Victoria's Secret ... I'm totally obsessing over this adorable set of six lipglosses! The pink box with mesh print contains six glosses packaged in maybe the most adorable way ever -- they look like bonbons in individual wrapping. Totally adorable, I'm telling you. And the colors, all shot with glitter and glitz, are super-flattering and sexy. They're a bit gooier than I normally prefer, but the packaging alone makes me want to eat them up. My fave is Satin Hipster, a gorgeous mauve tinged with the tiniest hint of sparkle.

Readers' Picks for Best Hair Shampoo

2008-10-08T09:00:00.000-04:00

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Readers' Picks for Best Hair Shampoo

TotalBeauty.com members of all hair types -- dry, curly, thin, you name it -- share their top product reviews

If you're still searching for a shampoo that won't make your hair feel dry, brittle and unhealthy, rest assured there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Check out this list of users' favorites, from higher-end brands like Pureology and Aveda to more affordable brands like Herbal Essences. We bet you'll find a formula that works so well you'll never want to stop using it.

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Wallet-Friendly Wednesdays: on10 Hershey's Almond Lip Balm SPF 15

2008-10-08T07:00:00.003-04:00

A lip balm that makes me long for the days of soda fountains and poodle skirts? It's totally on10 Hershey's Almond Lip Balm SPF 15. Each tin from this brand is totally adorable, with old-time pictures reminiscent of Norman Rockwell paintings emblazoned across the front. I get a sort of Pleasantville vibe from the tin -- I half expect Tobey Maguire and Reese Witherspoon to come running up to me in full-on black and white melodrama.

This almond tin is my current fave, since I am totally addicted to the scent of almonds. It's odd, actually, that I am drawn to almond-scented products when the actual taste of almonds isn't one I prefer. But this balm smells and tastes absolutely incredible. Add to that the fact that it moisturizes and conditions lips almost to the point that they look like Angelina Jolie's supple pout, and I'm definitely going to have to stock up.

And the price tag doesn't hurt, either! At $9 on Sephora's website, it won't break the bank. But it will keep your looks looking utterly fab.

Shameless Plug: The Beauty of Life Featured on Allure's Daily Beauty Reporter!

2008-10-07T14:38:00.003-04:00

Want to know what my biggest beauty splurge has been? Then you'd better head over to Allure's Daily Beauty Reporter, where yours truly was featured today! The fabulous brains behind the operation, Jessica Matlin, asked me for some comments on my biggest beauty splurge ever. And I'm in good company -- Janice from Specktra and Jessica from Sephora's Beauty and the Blog contributed as well. Head over to Daily Beauty Reporter now to check it out!

Top 23 Secrets to Shiny, Healthy Hair

2008-10-07T09:11:00.000-04:00

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Top 23 Secrets to Shiny, Healthy Hair

From Paul Mitchell to Garnier and Neutrogena, readers share product reviews on conditioners they can't live without

If you want soft, shiny, manageable hair, start in the shower by using the perfect conditioner for your hair type. Our readers have bravely tried (nearly) all of them and told us which they deem worthy. Check them out and get one step closer to "Pantene commercial" hair.

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